Politics & Government

Peters Council Passes Crematory Ordinance

The decision was unanimous.

Peters Township Council unanimously passed Monday night a crematory ordinance with regulations more stringent than the state's.

Township Manager Michael Silvestri said there are no regulations in the township's old ordinance and that the new one will "give us more protection."

He said it is illegal for the township to ban crematories and that the ordinance could not include a setback from the Montour Trail because there would then be no place in the industrial district zone for a crematory to be built.

Find out what's happening in Peterswith free, real-time updates from Patch.

The ordinance passed includes so many revisions township staff felt they needed to hold Monday night's second public hearing.

Some of the revisions include:

Find out what's happening in Peterswith free, real-time updates from Patch.

  • A crematory must be 750 feet from existing residences, schools and daycare centers.
  • Air emissions will be required to be monitored and studied by a third party. If standards are exceeded, the facility would be shut down in 24 hours.
  • Operation is only allowed between 7 a.m. and 7 p.m., Monday through Friday.
  • No halogenic plastics can be burned.
  • A certified crematory operator is required.

Click here and scroll to the bottom of the Peters Township website homepage to find the link to the entire proposed ordinance.

Lawyers for Cremation & Funeral Care by Danielle Andy Belusko are currently appealing the township's decision to not allow the facility to perform cremation in the commercial district zone.

What do you think about the new crematory ordinance? Tell us in the comments below.


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